Tank outlet-valve.



'G. M. BACON.

TANK OUTLET VALVE. APPLICATION r1150 1A11.ao.1911.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 sums-sum 1;

G. M. BACON. TANK OUTLET VALVE- APPLICATION FILED sumo, 1917.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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I comes all of the above-enumerated disad- GEORGE M. BACON, 0F SALT LAKECITY, UTAH.

TAN K OUTLET-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2&3, "2

Application filed January 30, 1917. Serial No. 145,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BACON, a

citizen of the United States, and aresident of Salt Lake City, in thecountyof Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a certainnew anduseful Improvement in Tank Out-- let-Valves, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to valves,"

and more particularly to that type which may be used in tank cars, andthe like, for. controlling the outflow of the contents of the cars, andfor retaining the contents from escaping during storage andtransportation.

In the practical use of valves of this general character, which are atpresent installed in tank cars, the valves are found to be in manyparticulars defective, and to consequently present many disadvantages;chiefly among which may be mentioned the follow- 1ng: w i -(a). It ispractically impossible to, determine when the valve isproperly seated,and the flow of the contents of the cars is completely out ch.

(b); No means is provided for ascertaining whether or not the valve,hasbeen unseated during transit, or for holding the valve from dislodgmentincident to the vibration of the car. The cap usually secured over theoutlet beneath .the car prevents the immediate detection of any leakagewhich frequently occurs with the usual form of valve.

(c). The construction of the type of valve at present employed is suchthat the fluid in the tank cars, and the sediment and impurities in thefluid, flow over and frequently become deposited upon the seatingsurfaces of the valve parts, with the result that the seating parts aresubmitted to undue wear, and the accumulation of the sediment betweenthe parts prevent the seating of the same, thus causing the valve toleak.

An object of the present invention is to provide avalve constructionwhich overvantages, and others which will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of the present embodiment of the invention, andwhich at the same time will meet all of the rulesand requirementsrelating to theconstruction of tank cars, and the installa tion ofvalves therein.

' A further aim of this invention is to provide a valve of thischaracter with means .for operating the valve at a distant pointtherefrom; such as 'at a point above the valve whenthe same is installedin a tank car, and to provide means to determine at such point theadjustment of the valve.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be in part described, and in part understood, from the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of a valveconstructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the movable part or turning plug of thevalve, part of the same being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showingthe parts con- .nected together, and showing the valve in open position.

Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the valve in closedposition.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a tank car, having the valveof this lI1VB11- tion applied thereto, parts of the car being disclosedin section to show the valve.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken through the dome of thetanl: car onthe line 6 -6 of Fig. 5, the full lines showing the operating lever inposition when the valve is open, and the dotted lines showing theposition of the operating lever when the valve is closed.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken through the dome of a tankcar having the valve of this invention applied thereto, the viewdisclosing the operating handlesecured in position for maintaining thevalve -which tapers in diameter from one end or the base of the casing10 to the opposite or outer endthereof. The base end of the bore mergesinto a threaded portion, formed by relatively coarse screw-threads 12formed in the inner wall of the base of the casing.

The casing or body 10 is provided, out

iitlli 'wardly of the attaching flange 11, with a pair of diametricallyopposed elongated outlet openings 13, and fitting in the ax1alopening inthe body part is a movable part or turning plug 14 having external screwthreads at its base portion for engagement with the threads 12 of thecasing 10. The

turning plug 14 is hollow, and the interior thereof opensthrough saidbase portion. The outer endlof the turning plug 14 is closed by an outerend wall 16, and the diametrically opposed sides of the turning plug areprovided with a pair of registering elongated outlet openings 17. Theturning plug 14 is provided, at the opposite ends of the o enings 17,with a pair of annular valveb' 'aring or seating faces 18 and 19 whichlie in planes transverse to the axis of the turning plug 14, and areadapted to engage the inner wall of the body 10 at the opposite ends ofthe openings 13 in the body. These annular bearing surfaces 18 and 19prevent leakage between the body and the turning plug at the oppositeends of the openings 13 and 17, and provide means for centering theturning plug 14. in the valve body. The

turning'plug 14 is also provided on its exterior surface, and about theopenings 17, with fillets or raised seating faces 20 adapted to bearagainst the inner wall of the valve body 10. The turning plug 14 tapersfrom its base to its outer end, and'the bearing or seating surfaces 18,19 and 20 conform to'the taper and are adapted to fit snugly in thecasing or body 10: The threads 12 and 15 formed respectively upon thebase portions of the body 10 and the turning plug 14; are of such pitchthat a quarter turn of the plug 14 to move the openings 17 out ofregister with the openings 13, advances the turning plug 14 through thecasings 10 sufiiciently to firmly bind the seating or bearing 'faces 18,19 and 20 against the inner wall 7 of the casing 10 and thus seal theplug in the casing.

The outer wall 16 of the turning plug is provided on its outer face witha socket 21 in the form of an annular outstanding flange into which maybe fitted the adjacent end of a valve rod'22. The valve rod 22 may be inthe form of a hollow pipe having the required torsional resistance, andwhich is held in the socket 21 by a transversely extending key 23engaging through the walls of the socket 21 and the pipe 22, and held inplace by a cotter pin 24, or the like.

The drawings disclose the valve of this inbelow the bottom of the tank.The reduced end of thevalve extends upwardly into the tank, and thevalve rod 22 passes upwardly into the dome B. A bearing bracket 25 issecured against the inner wall of the dome B and slidably and rotatablyreceives the upper end of the valve rod 22 therethrough.

A hand-lever 28 is mounted at one end upon. the upper extremity of thevalve rod 22,

and is of such length, and is so, mounted upon the valve rod 22, thatthe lever 26 may be moved through substantially ninety degrees inopposite directions to open and close the valve.

A chain 27 is secured to the free end'of the lever 26 and is ofopen-link construction, and is adapted, when the valve is closed, toengage one link at a time over a hook 28 which projects from-the ,innenwall of the dome B. The 'chain 27 is adapted to hold the valve fromaccidental displacement when adjusted into closed position, and thelinks of the chain permit of the locking or holding of the valve atvarious opening or closing positions to control the flow of the contentsfrom the tank A.

The base or lower end of the body 10 of the valve may be externallyscrew-threaded,"

as at 29, to receive thereon a closure cap 30,. such as isusuallyemployed, for covering the outlet from the tank. I

When the valve is installed on a tank can, and the valve is adjustedinto open position, the fluid in the tank car is permitted to flowoutwardly therefrom through the openings 13 and 17, and downwardlythrough the turning plug- 14. To close the valve it is only necessary toswing the lever 26 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, tothe position shown in dotted lines therein, which operation rotatestheturning plug 14 in the'casing 10 and turns the openings 17 out ofregister with the casing openings 13. At the same time, theinter-engaging threaded portions 12 and 15 of the valve casing 10 andthe turning plug 14, raise the I turning plug 14 and bind the bearingand seating faces 18, 19 and 20 against the inner walls of the casing10. The fillets or bearing faces 20 which surround the openings 17insure the sealing of the turning plug in the casings about the openings17 and thus prevent leakage between the casing and the turning plug.

The fluid in the tank A flows outwardly through the openings 13 and 17and does not pass over any of the bearing surfaces of the casing orturning plug so that the bearing surfaces are not subjected to unduewear, and are in such position that sediment and the like cannot depositthereon and become engaged between the bearing surfaces when the sameare seated.

When the valve is open, as shown in Fig.

1, the seating or bearing surfaces 18 and 19 a nasaeaa lie above andbelow the openings 13 and 17 respectively, and the outfiowing fluid doesnot cornein contact with the bearing surfaces but passes through theopenings as above described. The fillets or hearing surtaces 20 are alsohoused in the casing 10 and the fluid does not pass thereover. Theturning plug l l fits snugly in the casing 10 when the valve is open asshown in F 1., but'admits of the binding or tightening of the turningplug in the casing \vhenthe valve is closed as shown in Fig. i.

The position of the lever 245 indicates the condition of the valves andshows whether the valve is open or closed. l The chain E2? retains thelever 26 in adjusted position and the valve therefore cannot becomeunseated by the vibration of the tank car during transit. The casing orbody 10, and the turning plug 14: may be tapered to any desired extentthroughout their length, and is shown in the present instance as beingtapered from the plane of the attaching liar 7c 11 outwardly. The outerend of the body 10 has its interior surface machined or ground toprovide a smooth surface for engagement with the .iillcts to etleetuallyseal the turning plug in the casing body.

It is of course understood that the valve i this invention is applicableto various devices other than tank cars as above specifically pointedout, and that the casing or body 10 may be provided with any suitableattaching means for holding the body in the position desired. Theinvention also einbraces various other changes and niodilica' tions inthe construction of the above-specifically described valves which arelimited only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim z 1. In a tank valve, the combination of a casing havinganupvvardly tapering bore opening through the top and bottom of thecasing;- and having lateral outlet openings, a turning plug fittingupwardly in the easing, and having a bore opening through the lower endof the plug and closed at its top to close the upper end the casing, theplug also havii'ig lateral outlet openings adapted to register with thelateral open ings in the casing, the casing and the plug having meansadapted to retain the plug in the casing and advance theplug upwardlytherein when the plug is turned to close the valve, and operatingineansconnected to the upper end of the plug to turn the same.

2. The combination with a tank, of a valve casing secured to the bottomof the tank and having an upwardly projecting tapering portion providedwith outlet opera ings in its side, a turning plug fitting in said valvecasing and provided with an up Wardly tapering portion having an outletopening in its side, means for retaining said plug in the casing andadapted to advance the plug upwardly into the tapered end of the casingwhen the plug is turned, a valve rod connected to said plug andextending upx ardly througlii the tank an operating lever connected tothe upper end of said valve rod and adapted to be turned to rotate theplug whereby said means is adapted to bind the plug in the casing.

3. The combination with. a tank, of a valve casing adapted. to besecured in vertical position to the bottom thereof and having a taperingupper end, a turning plug fitting insaid valve casing and having atapered upper enrh said casing and said turning plug being provided withinterineshing threaded portions at their lower ends to retain the plugin the casing and to advance the plug upwardly in the casing when theplug is turned, said casing and.

turning plug being also provided. with lateral outlet openings broughtinto register by the rotation of the plug, a valve rod connected to theupper end of the plug and projecting upwardly through the casing, ahandle connected to the upper end of said alve rod and adapted to beswung in opposite directions for opening and closing the valve, and.means for securing the handlever in various adjusted positions.

t. The combination with a tank car including a tank having the usualdome, of a valve casing projecting vertically through the bottom of saidtank and provided with an annular attaching flange adapted to be securedto the said tank bottom, said valve casing having an axial openingtherethrough with internal threads at the base of the casing andtapering at the upper end of the bore a turning plug fitting in saidvalve casing and provided with an axial opening therein closed at thetop of the turning plug and having external threads at the lower end ofthe turning plug for engagement with the threads of said casing toretain the turning plug in the casing and to advance the plug upwardlytherein upon the turning of the plug, said casing and said turn plugbeing provided with lat- 1 eral outlet openings adapted to be broughtinto register to drain said tank, a valve rod connected to the upperclosed end of the turning plug and extending upwardly through th tankinto the dome, an operating lever secured to the upper end of said valverod and adapted to engage one side of said demo to hold the valve inopen position, and adapted to be turned through substantially inetydegrees against the opposite side of the dome to hold the valve inclosed position.

5. Tie combination with atank car provided with the usual tank and adome thereon, oi a cylindrical valve body adapteo for secur-uneutvertically through the bottom of said tauln a turning plug Within saidvalve body, said valve body and said turning plug tapering at theirupper ends and provided with lateral outlet openings adapted to-bebrought into register by the rotation of the turning plug, a valve rodsecuredto the upper end of the turning plug and projecting upwardlythrough the tank and into said dome, a hand lever'connected to ,theupper end of said valve rod project- "the valve casing for retaining theplug therein and for advancing the turning plug upwardly in the casingto bind it in the V latter when turned into closed position.

6. In a valve for tank cars including the usual tank and a dometherefor, the combination of a vertically disposed casing adapted to besecured to the bottom of the tank, a turning plug mounted in saidcasing, means connecting the turning plug to the casing to retain theplug therein and for advancing the turning plug upwardly in the casingto bind the plug therein when the latter is rotated, a valve rodconnected 'to said turning plug and adapted to extend upwardly throughthe tank into said dome,

an operating lever connected to the upper end of said valve rod, saidoperatingleverbeing adapted to be swung against one side of said dome toopen the valve and against the opposite sides of the dome to close thewith internal and external threads and having an upwardly tapering endadapted to extend into the tank with lateral outlet openings therein, aturning plug fitting in said casing and provided with external threadsupon its lower end adapted for intermeshin engagement with the internalthreads 0 the casing to retain the plug therein and for advancing theplug upwardly inthe casing when the plug is rotated, said turning plugbeing provided with an axial opening therein openin through the lowerend of the plug and through the casing, and having. lateral outletopenings inits opposite sides adapted to register with the outletopenings in said casing, a valve rod detachably connected to the upperend of said turning plug and extending upwardly through the tank andinto said dome for operating the valve from the latter, and a tapdetaehably secured over the lower threaded end of said valve casing forclosing the lower end of the casing and the turning plug.

GEORGE M. BACON.

